title: Evaluation of the olfactory memory after spinal anesthesia: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of spinal anesthesia (SA) on olfactory memory using Brief-Smell Identification TestTM (B-SIT).
  
  
  METHODS
  This, prospective, clinical study was performed on 40 ASA physical status I-III patients, between 18-65 years of age undergoing a planned elective minor surgery under SA. All participants were preoperatively informed about B-SIT and the mode of application of the test according to the information in the book. B-SIT was applied to each patient preoperatively and the scores were recorded. B-SIT was reapplied to all patients on the 1st and 2nd postoperative days and the scores were recorded. Moreover, development of postdural puncture headache (PDPH) and/or neurological symptoms (such as hearing loss, diplopia) were checked.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative headache was observed in 7 of the participants and 3 of them was diagnosed to have PDPH. No statistically significant difference was observed in the olfactory memory evaluation of the patients suffering from headache and the 3 patients diagnosed with PDPH. No statistically significant difference was observed in the correct odor answer ratio between the preoperative and postoperative 1st and 2nd days (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirm that SA does not affect olfactory memory. Further studies are necessary to confirm the results of our pilot study in a larger sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery; Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology; Department of General Surgery; Department of Otorhinolaryngology; Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Abant Izzet Baysal University Medical School, Bolu, Turkey. boluanestezi14@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demirhan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akkaya
authors.forename: U Y
authors.initials: UY
authors.lastname: Tekelioglu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilgi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Isik
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sit
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gok
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kocoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051299:Post-Dural Puncture Headache / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012903:Smell